Any of you think that the exhaust tip is a little oversized in the Vibe even on the base model? Don't get me wrong, I like the looks of it and it fits in nicely to the Vibe unlike the "riced" up Civics and Accords. People might think I have a souped up car and start to drag race me at every stop light.
Any other owners out there noticing a rather high idle speed? I've noticed the past week that when I start my car in the morning, it is fast idling at about 1900rpm, and even after my 15 min drive to work on the highway it's idling at around 1500rpm. I know that when I picked it up it idled closer to 700rpm. Anyone else experience this?
I need help from the owners out there. If I have the cruise control on and I brake or cancel and the speed falls below 25 mph, I cannot resume. In every other car I've driven, the cruise control only loses it's setting if you shut the cruise control off or shut the car off. Futhermore, the owner's manual says that the cruise control only loses it's memory if shut off.
However, the dealer is telling me that the owner's manual is wrong, and that the Pontiac technicians say that the cruise control is designed to operate that way. I know that this is not true, I just want you guys to verify that yours is working correctly. To have to reset (not resume) cruise control after every stop is just rediculous. Thanks for your help.
P.S. cfilkins - I've got the high-idle thing too, but only for the first few minutes.
Have you tried hitting resume after you hit 25MPH? In my Saturn, it won't resume while under 40km/h (so you don't hit it accidentally) but if you wait until you are over 40km/h it will resume without being reset after a full stop. Would seem pointless otherwise.
Yes. I've gone all the way back to my preset speed and tried to resume and it doesn't work. They've got another one on the lot which I'm going to drive and see if it does the same thing. Thanks for trying.
Last night I drove the other Vibe that the dealer had on the lot and it did the same thing. So, at least the dealer isn't trying to lie to me. However, I've never driven a car where the cruise control loses it's setting when the speed drops below 25 mph. I'm going to follow up with Pontiac about this issue because I think there's a defect in the cruise control and they're trying to skirt the issue by saying the owner's manual is wrong and it's designed to operate like this.
Owners - does your cruise control do the same thing? Does anyone have any information about this issue? Thanks again for your help.
I tried three times to turn off Overdrive while highway driving. When you turn it off, you get more power. And I guess it drinks more gas as well. My Vibe drinks 9 liter gas at its first 100km.
When I start my Vibe, it idle at about 1800rpm. Even I don't wait it warms up and shift to D, it drops to about 800rpm immediately. I think they designed this way.
Having driven my other vehicles (VW GTI and Passat), at 25mph or below, the cruise control will not activate or turned off for safety reason. Why would you want cruise control on at 25mph or below? There is nothing wrong with the design in the Vibe or Matrix. The owner's manual in this case is probably wrong.
The cruise control is designed to work that way. It'a a Toyota cruise system. If the Vibe manual says otherwise it's wrong. Why exactly is this a bad thing anyways? Is it really that hard to glance at the speedo and pull the lever down instead of up? If you're stopping so often that it's annoying you probably shouldn't be using cruise anyways.
Warranty issues aside, does anyone know if you can install the TRD exhaust package for the Matrix XRS on a Vibe GT (which are both ostensibly mechanically identical)? The added 13hp--hopefully accompanied by some extra torque--would be a nice boost for the high-strung Yamaha engine if it can be done.
You're driving on a U.S. Highway, cruising along at 62 mph, and stop for one of those stoplights that pop up sporadically on U.S. Highways. In every other car I've ever driven, once I've accelerated back up at least to over 35 mph, I should be able to hit resume and go right back to exactly 62 mph. The owner's manual of the Vibe says I should be able to. But I can't.
However, if I hit the brake to slow down for a brief period of heavy traffic, as long as my speed doesn't fall below 25 mph, I can resume my previous speed.
No, it's not that hard to set the speed again, but resume does make things a little easier, and it's how the cruise control is supposed to work. It's how every other cruise control system works, as far as I've experienced (and I've experienced a lot of cars when I worked for a car magazine a couple of years ago). If there's a defect in the system, I think Pontiac owes us a TSB to fix it rather than saying, "Oh, uh, the owner's manual is wrong and that's how it's supposed to work."
Based on my example above, is that how the cruise control system works on your Vibes?
Now you have it. "However, if I hit the brake to slow down for a brief period of heavy traffic, as long as my speed doesn't fall below 25 mph, I can resume my previous speed." Every vehicle I've driven operates this way. This is not a defect in the system. It is designed that way. The only thing Pontiac owes you is an apology and an amendment to the "cruise control" operating procedures for your manual. Relax and enjoy your Vibe.
Thanks petl and vonnyvonce. The people over on the Matrix and Corolla message boards also confirmed that the Toyota cruise control systems operate this way.
Actually, all of the cars I've driven where I've used the cruise control can resume from a complete stop (as long as you accelerate back up to at least 35 mph). I guess I just never used the cruise control in the Toyotas I've driven or any other make that has this quirk.
I just wanted to be sure that's the way its supposed to work, because automakers will try to get out of any warranty work that they can. Thanks again for your help.
Tested the cruise control of my Vibe and confirmed my earlier assertion that the cruise will erase its memory once speed drops below 25mph. You have to reset the cruise again once you get the speed above 25mph. The owner's manual is wrong in this case not the design. Lets put this to rest.
I know I saw someone post about this once before but earlier today the spring on mine popped out. Anyone know how to put this back in so I don't need to go make a special trip to the Pontiac Place?
The spring should have a cutout with a small, metal tab in it. There is a plastic wall inside the compartment a little to the left of center as you move your hand towards the front of the car. The wall has a small, square opening into which the metal tab will fit.
Anyone have the 6 cd changer? If so, do you know what the purpose of the light to the right of the volume control knob is? It never comes on. I know the other light is used for loading cds.
If it's anything like other Delco systems, it should have a Theftlock LED somewhere on the panel. This could be it. The reason it doesn't come on is that you need to program Theftlock and then the LED will flash when the engine is off. Check the owners manual and read over the radio section carefully. You will find more information about it in there I'm sure.
Lopers - I don't have the changer, but mine has a light next to the volume control. There are actually two on mine - a red one that flashes when the car is off signaling the security system in the stereo, and the yellow one is the select light. In the single disc player, there's a second knob that controls the tuner, but also is used for adjusting the balance, fader, and eq settings. If you push the tone button, check and see if that light comes on. Good luck!
My lease is up next week so I'm going car shopping this weekend. I just saw a Vibe in front of my house and it intriged me. Can anyone give me their general impressions of owning it? I'm currently driving a VW Beetle & I like how it drives and the carrying capacity.
I was ready to place an order for a Vibe with the "Premium Monotone Appearance Package" (among other things) last week. However, I was told that the monotone package is currently only available in a few select colors (black, white, red, blue, and gray I believe). I'd like to get monotone silver.
Ive tried about 50 times to get that spring and compartment back together, I tried the directions someone else posted here but it didn't work out to well, at the rate im going im going to break the spring. Any other help would be great.
The supply of Vibes still seems very limited. Local Pontiac dealer has none on the lot. I have seen a few on the highways, but it appears like this will be a pretty rare car this year for owners. I thought they were bluffing when we went to test, but they weren't.
Take a vacation to sunny Central Florida... there are plenty of Vibes at the dealers here. I've seen the same ones on the lots for the last couple months so they must not be selling well. Get a one way plane ticket to Orlando, visit Disney World, buy your Vibe and drive it home!
Price difference is not $2000 here anyway, more like $1000. You also get more stuff in the Vibe and the lease/finance rate is better so the price dif is smaller really.
I guess supply is less here, who knows. Florida is a retirement state so the old folks probably don't like the Vibe. ;-)
"Price difference is not $2000 here anyway, more like $1000. You also get more stuff in the Vibe and the lease/finance rate is better so the price dif is smaller really."
A while back, I priced out and compared a Base model, a moderately equipped model, and a fully loaded model, and they each came very close to $2000 (US) each lower on the Matrix version. The options used in each case were identical.
Also, it would be impossible for the Vibe to have a better lease program. Actually its the opposite due to the poor residual of the Vibe, which is a whopping 11 points lower than the same equipped Matrix. Depending on your money factor this means a savings of $60 to $100 EACH MONTH if you lease a Matrix instead of the Vibe (just on the residual difference alone).
These numbers are from 3 weeks ago on loaded models for a 3 year lease with $0 down:
So, even with pontiac giving the Vibe away at invoice, it still not even close. The payment goes over $400 if you add the extra $1000 to the purchase price of the Vibe.
So what you're really saying is that GM is charging more because of that butt-ugly body cladding, and then extorting customers out of another $500 for the monotone package if they want it removed/repainted. (And yes, I'm aware that it really does cost GM more to put the cladding on.) And as if that weren't bad enough, they tack on more for--yet give you no option of removing--those silly looking, "decorative" roof rails that do little more than add weight and increase drag. I just don't get GM.
Purchased our new vibe today -- wanted to thank everyone who has posted here for all the good info. Went into the dealership thinking about custom ordering as we (my wife and I) weren't too excited about the grey body cladding. We were told it was going to be 5-6 months (!) before a custom order would go through. Seemed like a bit long but the Canadian supply does seem to be limited.
Anyhow, they found one at a nearby dealer with the options we wanted in the "Shadow" color, which also matches the body cladding. Was a bit worried about the color being a boring gray but it is actually quite nice -- not really gray at all but more a topey/mocha type of color. We got the base model with sport and safety (ABS) packages. We wanted a sunroof and unfortunately had to get the whole sport package to get it -- I already had my eye on some aftermarket wheels and we already have a high-end stereo to put in it. I also expect to mod the engine, perhaps with the supercharger, should it become available.
Paid MSRP - it's pretty hard to bargain when you have no other alternative save waiting for 5-6 months. I would have gone for the Matrix but I had $3200 in GM Card earnings and another $1000 grad bonus so it would take an amazing deal from Toyota to beat that! I also wonder if there is less room for price movement here in Canada. If you take the US base price of 16k and times it by the current exchange rate you get about 25k Canadian -- but the Canadian base price is only 19k (and those auto-plant workers are paid in $US!). Anyhow I'm happy and it feels like a good value for what it is. Best wishes to all!
I didn't look at the GT pricing. I was looking at a base model with power package and ABS (which is not available on the base Matrix). MSRP price difference without the ABS was C$1180 ($19320 vs $20500). Toyota would not deal and had 5.9% financing. Pontiac dealer offered C$400 off and 3.9% financing. Price difference is now C$780 and that is more than made up with lower financing and the addition of power windows and a roof rack.
This is my experience, I don't know the GT/XRS pricing or what the prices are in the U.S. at all for that matter. Up here, the Vibe is a decent deal and if you have GM points or grad money, it get's even better.
Have seen how the roof racks would look on the Toyota Matrix (i.e. if you ever decide to put them on by yourself) ? I have to agree the body cladding is really ugly.
I know this was asked before but I don't remember seeing an answer. Does anyone know what brand is the 200 watt stereo system ? Is it the same as the Matrix ? They say it's a premium system so I am not sure if they meant Monsoon coz it does not "sound" premium to me. The sound is too hollow and it sure does lack the base even though I maxed out the controls.
Hi. I live in southern Ontario and 1 Pontiac dealer who previously had 1 base and 1 GT now has neither. Another dealer has 5 vibes and 4 have painted body cladding. They loaded one of 'em up (a GT) with security ($400), stereo and navigation plus the $620 for painted cladding. Final price $31 plus change. I couldn't believe it. You can get a loaded CR-V AWD for about that. I don't think a Matrix comes in anywhere close to this, does it? I will wait to see if they get real late in the year, otherwise I am staying in my Accord. Hopefully Lutz will yank that cladding off (while he rips it off the Avalanche) to save them money; surely, if ever there was something that should be an option, this is IT. My brother works in the field, and he thinks they are paying big bucks to get the cladding painted (hard to bond to the plastic). Our older CR-V had a painted wheel cover until my son closed the garage door on it. Painted trim will not last when blasted with bugs, bumper knocks in parking lots etc.
Prime: keep us updated on how it drives. Good luck.
The 'premium' stereo is nothing to get excited over -- at least to my spoiled ears. It sounded pretty hollow and harsh -- certainly disappoining for a 'premium' amplified system (it's silly to call it amplified... what stereo isn't?). I've been working with auto sound systems for a number of years now and the weakest link in the factory stereos is typically the speakers and their positioning. Here' s my recommendation for putting together something for half the cost of the premium option that will preform twice as good:
1. Replace the factory speakers with mid-range aftermarket models (look on the net for recommendations). I haven't had the doors apart yet on the Vibe, but it often makes a huge difference as well how secure the speakers are in the doors, and how solid the panels are around them. It will do wonders for the bass and the overall solidity of the sound if you reinforce the areas around the speakers in the doors. You can get tacky sound/vibration dampening material from car audio stores (typically it's expensive) or get something on-line or from a hardware store. www.b-quiet.com has some good and cheap stuff.
2. At this point you'll find out how good the factory deck is in terms of sound quality and power. If you have the premium package with the external amplifier you might be okay... otherwise you might want to add one. If you do have the base stereo I suspect that your total cost to upgrade the speakers and add a small amp will actually be less than the option cost to purchase the 'premium' system... and again you'll have something that you'll probably enjoy much more.
3. Once you're happy with the speakers and the power and sound going to them, your next likely upgrade is a subwoofer for better bass extension. I'm curious what sort of space is available behind the panels and under the cargo space in the Vibe... it might be possible to install something that doesn't occupy any usuable space. I've seen small ones that might add a bit of bass that will probably fit in the circular cut-out underneith the cargo area.
Well I took my car to the pontiac place today. The problem is they don't have any experience with the vibe nor does there computer have any information, so basically they couldn't figure out how to put the spring and compartment back together. Eventually after lots of trying and testing and pulling the box out of a display vibe to see how the spring fit, we ended up losing the spring somewhere deep under the gear box. Anyways looks like they decided to just order a whole new gear shift. Aren't first year cars great. You get to be the guinie pig.
I have had my new Vibe for 8 days so I thought I would post some details. Base Model Shadow automatic trans side airbags power package abs and engine block heater MSRP about $19,100 GMO Price $17,100 GM Card -$ 3,150 With Tax out the door under $15,000 very happy with this price. Financed with People First 36 months 5.4%. We had one minor problem with a squeak which the dealer fixed quickly. After 600 miles very happy with the car also gas mileage has been over 30 MPG with mixed driving.
once you drive the Vibe for a few weeks? Do you get used to it? I'm still interested in an AWD Vibe, cross-shopping the Aztek, Subaru WRX wagon, and eventually the Subaru Baja too. I'm a little concerned that the wheel being so short could be uncomfortable (it was a little in my test drive), and that it may be too weak and/or small. It seems like I could carry plenty in it. I'm no speedy driver, but I would hope that a subcompact could at least accelerate as well as the Aztek. I drove an Aztek over a year ago, but then wanted to wait for the Vibe. I'm going to have to buy something by September. Any owners with thoughts about the wheel, pickup, highway driving?
Purchased a new Vibe GT last Friday. Shadow with moons and tunes, power pkg, side air bags and 6CD changer. When I asked the dealer why the Vibe MSRP was over $1000 more than the equivalent Matrix they had no real answer. So my negotiation stategy with them was that I would not pay more then the Matrix price. So I paid about $1200 under MSRP. Love the car. After 1st fillup I got 31 mpg. Only minor complaint is that the auto headlights come on too soon- not dark enough yet. When this happens the dash lights also dim and makes it hard to read the gauges. Wonder if this can be adjusted?
Comments
It is a LOT more than a non-GT Vibe, and you can equip a non-GT to have all the features of the GT.
The GT gets 6mpg less, and to get the extra oomph you have to rev the engine to 6000 RPM. Also, the GT requires premium fuel.
People might think I have a souped up car and start to drag race me at every stop light.
However, the dealer is telling me that the owner's manual is wrong, and that the Pontiac technicians say that the cruise control is designed to operate that way. I know that this is not true, I just want you guys to verify that yours is working correctly. To have to reset (not resume) cruise control after every stop is just rediculous. Thanks for your help.
P.S. cfilkins - I've got the high-idle thing too, but only for the first few minutes.
Owners - does your cruise control do the same thing? Does anyone have any information about this issue? Thanks again for your help.
My Vibe drinks 9 liter gas at its first 100km.
When I start my Vibe, it idle at about 1800rpm. Even I don't wait it warms up and shift to D, it drops to about 800rpm immediately. I think they designed this way.
You're driving on a U.S. Highway, cruising along at 62 mph, and stop for one of those stoplights that pop up sporadically on U.S. Highways. In every other car I've ever driven, once I've accelerated back up at least to over 35 mph, I should be able to hit resume and go right back to exactly 62 mph. The owner's manual of the Vibe says I should be able to. But I can't.
However, if I hit the brake to slow down for a brief period of heavy traffic, as long as my speed doesn't fall below 25 mph, I can resume my previous speed.
No, it's not that hard to set the speed again, but resume does make things a little easier, and it's how the cruise control is supposed to work. It's how every other cruise control system works, as far as I've experienced (and I've experienced a lot of cars when I worked for a car magazine a couple of years ago). If there's a defect in the system, I think Pontiac owes us a TSB to fix it rather than saying, "Oh, uh, the owner's manual is wrong and that's how it's supposed to work."
Based on my example above, is that how the cruise control system works on your Vibes?
Actually, all of the cars I've driven where I've used the cruise control can resume from a complete stop (as long as you accelerate back up to at least 35 mph). I guess I just never used the cruise control in the Toyotas I've driven or any other make that has this quirk.
I just wanted to be sure that's the way its supposed to work, because automakers will try to get out of any warranty work that they can. Thanks again for your help.
Lets put this to rest.
What a coincidence! I got some strange vibes from an Intrigue I just saw
Sorry, but I couldn't resist...
Has anyone seen or heard otherwise?
The Matrix selling for $2000 less for the same equipped vehicle might have something to do with it.
I guess supply is less here, who knows. Florida is a retirement state so the old folks probably don't like the Vibe. ;-)
Still waiting for my shadow coloured base model Vibe that I ordered in March. There are barely any Vibes available in Saskatchewan, Canada.
A while back, I priced out and compared a Base model, a moderately equipped model, and a fully loaded model, and they each came very close to $2000 (US) each lower on the Matrix version. The options used in each case were identical.
Also, it would be impossible for the Vibe to have a better lease program. Actually its the opposite due to the poor residual of the Vibe, which is a whopping 11 points lower than the same equipped Matrix. Depending on your money factor this means a savings of $60 to $100 EACH MONTH if you lease a Matrix instead of the Vibe (just on the residual difference alone).
These numbers are from 3 weeks ago on loaded models for a 3 year lease with $0 down:
Matrix XRS - MSRP @ $19,900 - Purchase @ $19,500 - lease payment = $310 + tax
Vibe GT - MSRP @ $22,000 - Purchase @ $20,700 - lease payment = $375 + tax
So, even with pontiac giving the Vibe away at invoice, it still not even close. The payment goes over $400 if you add the extra $1000 to the purchase price of the Vibe.
http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=16
Anyhow, they found one at a nearby dealer with the options we wanted in the "Shadow" color, which also matches the body cladding. Was a bit worried about the color being a boring gray but it is actually quite nice -- not really gray at all but more a topey/mocha type of color. We got the base model with sport and safety (ABS) packages. We wanted a sunroof and unfortunately had to get the whole sport package to get it -- I already had my eye on some aftermarket wheels and we already have a high-end stereo to put in it. I also expect to mod the engine, perhaps with the supercharger, should it become available.
Paid MSRP - it's pretty hard to bargain when you have no other alternative save waiting for 5-6 months. I would have gone for the Matrix but I had $3200 in GM Card earnings and another $1000 grad bonus so it would take an amazing deal from Toyota to beat that! I also wonder if there is less room for price movement here in Canada. If you take the US base price of 16k and times it by the current exchange rate you get about 25k Canadian -- but the Canadian base price is only 19k (and those auto-plant workers are paid in $US!). Anyhow I'm happy and it feels like a good value for what it is. Best wishes to all!
Revka
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This is my experience, I don't know the GT/XRS pricing or what the prices are in the U.S. at all for that matter. Up here, the Vibe is a decent deal and if you have GM points or grad money, it get's even better.
Have seen how the roof racks would look on the Toyota Matrix (i.e. if you ever decide to put them on by yourself) ? I have to agree the body cladding is really ugly.
Thanks
Prime: keep us updated on how it drives. Good luck.
1. Replace the factory speakers with mid-range aftermarket models (look on the net for recommendations). I haven't had the doors apart yet on the Vibe, but it often makes a huge difference as well how secure the speakers are in the doors, and how solid the panels are around them. It will do wonders for the bass and the overall solidity of the sound if you reinforce the areas around the speakers in the doors. You can get tacky sound/vibration dampening material from car audio stores (typically it's expensive) or get something on-line or from a hardware store. www.b-quiet.com has some good and cheap stuff.
2. At this point you'll find out how good the factory deck is in terms of sound quality and power. If you have the premium package with the external amplifier you might be okay... otherwise you might want to add one. If you do have the base stereo I suspect that your total cost to upgrade the speakers and add a small amp will actually be less than the option cost to purchase the 'premium' system... and again you'll have something that you'll probably enjoy much more.
3. Once you're happy with the speakers and the power and sound going to them, your next likely upgrade is a subwoofer for better bass extension. I'm curious what sort of space is available behind the panels and under the cargo space in the Vibe... it might be possible to install something that doesn't occupy any usuable space. I've seen small ones that might add a bit of bass that will probably fit in the circular cut-out underneith the cargo area.
Enjoy!
Avalanche cladding is not good and will only be an option next year.
Base Model Shadow
automatic trans
side airbags
power package
abs and engine block heater
MSRP about $19,100
GMO Price $17,100
GM Card -$ 3,150
With Tax out the door under $15,000 very happy with this price. Financed with People First 36 months 5.4%. We had one minor problem with a squeak which the dealer fixed quickly. After 600 miles very happy with the car also gas mileage has been over 30 MPG with mixed driving.